'Formula 1 cars not getting heavier for first time in years'

Drivers and Formula One fans look back jealously at 20 years ago. The era when Michael Schumacher won his titles and Fernando Alonso and Kimi Raikkonen made their appearance. Roaring V10s in the back of narrow nimble F1 cars. It is a great contrast to today's hybrid engines and leaden and unwieldy bolides.

F1 cars not on a diet

However, there seems to be an end to making the cars heavier. In 2022, the lower limit for F1 cars went to 798 kg. The target was initially 795 kg, but Alfa Romeo was the only team close to that. Therefore, a three-kilogram weight increase was chosen before the start of the season.

The goal was to lose weight from 2023, but that did not materialise. The goal was to go from 798 kg back to 796 kg. Auto, Motor und Sport reports, however, that the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), which includes all the teams' top engineers, has concluded that the new target is not feasible. There was even talk of raising the lower limit, but the sport has been spared that. The minimum weight for 2023 now remains at 798 kg.

Why the cars could not be lighter by 2023 is not clear. There would be question marks over Pirelli's front tyres, but that has not been confirmed as the reason. That the cars remain at the same weight is already a relief. Since 2013, an F1 car was already 156kg heavier (from 642kg in 2013 to the 798kg in 2023).